BISMARCK, N.D. — Minnesota State (20-12, 7-1) secured a thrilling doubleheader victory over the University of Mary (10-20, 0-8), winning the first game 5-4 and the second game 6-2 on Sunday, March 29.
"It was a grind of a day but our women stuck with it," said head coach Kristle Wolcott. "Small ball really gave us more options offensively."
Game 1 | Minnesota State 5, UMary 4
In the opening game, the Mavericks capitalized on eight walks and scored across four innings to clinch the win. Hannah Tong got things rolling in the third with a double to right, driving home
Finley Anderson. The Marauders countered with two runs, highlighted by a solo shot, taking a 2-1 lead.
Minnesota State responded in the fourth. After a Maddie Helin single and a walk to
Ryanne Mellum,
Chloe Brandt's fielder's choice allowed Helin to score. A bases-loaded walk to
Gianna Lara brought Mellum home, but UfMary tied it up at 3-3 with a run of their own.
The sixth inning saw Brandt double and score on Tong's single, but UMary answered back, tying the game again at 4-4. Carly Kimmes, hit by a pitch and scored on a Nyah Hulbert single, giving the Mavericks the edge in the 7th. The defense held strong, racking up nine fielding assists well above their average.
Minnesota State secured a 5-4 victory over the University of Mary in game one.
Maddie Oetzmann pitched 3 2/3 innings, allowing four hits and three earned runs with two strikeouts, while
Lucy Porter came in for relief, tossing 3 1/3 innings, giving up three hits and one earned run. Porter recorded eight flyouts and two groundouts with just one walk.
Tong led the way with three hits and two RBIs, including a crucial double. Lara added an RBI with two walks, while Brandt contributed a double, a run, and an RBI, along with a sacrifice bunt. Izzy Hycnar anchored the defense with five assists at third.
Game 2 | Minnesota State 6, UMary 2
In the second game, the Mavericks earned a 6-2 win behind timely hitting. In the second inning, Kimmes drew a walk and stole second before Ireland Broderick doubled to right center to score her and give MSU a 1-0 lead.
Tong extended the lead in the third with a solo home run to left center, though the Marauders responded with two runs to tie the game at 2-2.
The Mavericks regained control in the fifth. Brandt singled, followed by another single from Tong to move her to third. Ysabel Lerma, running for Tong, scored on Lara's single, and a sacrifice fly from Hycnar brought Lerma home.
Ava Volkmann, pinch running for Lara, later scored on Helin's single to push the lead to 5-2.
In the seventh, Tong doubled and Reese Falish advanced to third on a foul out before Hulbert delivered a sacrifice fly to seal the 6-2 victory.
Jorey Fry delivered a complete game performance, allowing two earned runs on seven hits while striking out seven. Despite a third inning setback, Fry settled in and controlled the game down the stretch.
Tong paced the offense with a home run, a double, three hits, and an RBI. Brandt added two hits and a run, while Broderick contributed a double and an RBI.
The Mavericks are set to face Sioux Falls next, with the game scheduled for Friday, April 3 at noon in Sioux Falls, S.D.
